USMC's
New TOW Turret
From Raytheon's website:
"Raytheon Company successfully completed an initial round of live-fire testing with a new U.S. Marine Corps Light Armored Vehicle Anti-Tank (LAV-AT) weapon system. The upgraded, highly mobile, anti-armor LAV-AT weapon system is designed to protect reconnaissance and light infantry. Its mission is to defeat threats at long-range, day or night, and in all weather conditions." Oct 23 - 2013.
USMC is the only remaining user for the Emerson 901A1 Tow Turret in their LAV-AT 8x8 vehicles.
The Emerson TOW turret entered US Army service in 1978 on M113's configured as M901and M981.
The turret was then integrated on the USMC's LAV 8x8 fleet designated as the LAV-AT.
LAV-AT w/ EMERSON TOW Turret
The turret today is very slow and very difficult to maintain. There are difficult to solve obsolescence issues.
Enter Enhanced LAV-AT
In April 2012, USMC Program Management Office awarded Raytheon to develop a new weapon system for the LAV-AT platform.
The new TOW turret system will provide an enhanced capability over the existing sighting system in terms of the integration of an enhanced TOW system - TOW Improved Target Acquisition System (ITAS) designated as M41 Saber for USMC service. It will provide a second-generation forward looking infra-red, far target location and ability to acquire targets on the move. Turret has got high performance electric drives and folding capability for aerial transport.
